Saturday, January 9th, 2015
New Review and 2013 Oregon Vintage Report from Eric Asimov; New Arrivals from Domaine Clape; Staff Pick: Fantino Rosso; Bitouzet-Prieur: Wines Arriving January 22nd; New Rosenthal Wines Arriving January 22nd; Schloss Gobelsburg; Californian Superstars; California Case Deals
New Review from Eric Asimov of the New York Times
Eric Asimov writes on the 2013 vintage in Oregon: “The vintage seemed set up to be good. Growers likened it to 2012, but instead of the dry, warm September and October that capped that year (and saved the year before), rains began in September and growers either had to pick the grapes early, perhaps sooner than they would have preferred, or risk rot and damage in the hopes of a dry spell. Either way, growers lost a good deal of their yield and the vintage was small. It was clear from our tasting that few producers resisted the vintage. Its character was stamped on the wines. Colors were all variations of ruby, rather than inky black. On the palate they tended toward lean rather than fleshy, with delicate fruit and angular, earthy flavors, often with notes of iron ore. Tannins showed their grip but not overpoweringly, and acidity was plentiful. [Aside from 20 wines tasted,] I highly recommend trying out wines from Soter Vineyards, J. Christopher, Brick House and Day Wines.”
Belle Pente Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 17 bottles available
Eric Asimov 3 Stars: “Lightly tannic, with aromas of flowers and red and black fruits, and fresh, persistent flavors of fruit and iron.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Dark red. Vibrant, spicy scents of red fruits and spicecake are lifted by a subtle floral overtone. Juicy and precise, with gently sweet raspberry and rose pastille flavors that deepen on the back half. In an energetic style, with smooth tannins framing a very long, spice-tinged finish. I’ll bet that this well-balanced Pinot will surprise with its ability to age.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
New Weekend – New Arrivals
From Domaine Auguste Clape
Domaine Auguste Clape Saint-Peray Blanc 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Importer note: 100% Marsanne from clay & granite soils. Vines average 40 years in age. Wine is fermented in cement cuve, aged in stainless steel for 8 months and undergoes complete malolactic fermentation.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Auguste Clape Le Vin des Amis 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Importer note: 100% Syrah from round river stone soils. Vines average 40 years in age. Aged for 6 months in cement cuves and 6 months in foudres.
Domaine Auguste Clape Cotes du Rhone 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Importer note: 100% Syrah from granite soils. Vines are 30 to 50 years in age. Aged for 6 months in cement cuves and 6 months in foudres.
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Pierre-Marie also excelled in 2013, and his Cornas Renaissance offers fleshy, ripe, full-bodied notes of powdered rock, cassis, black raspberry and ground herbs. With time in the glass, it becomes dominated by its mineral-component and it gains mid-palate depth and richness. It will drink reasonably well on release, but have 15 years or more of overall longevity.” WA
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2013 1.5L ($259.95) $219 special
Wine Advocate 94-97 points “More powerful, backwards and inky than the Renaissance, the 2013 Cornas exhibits classic notes of cold steel, burning embers, crushed rock and inky purple fruit. Full-bodied, concentrated and with high, yet sweet, tannin, it’s a serious wine that will have two decades of longevity.” JD
Staff Pick: Fantino Rosso
Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Rosso dei Dardi Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Rosso dei Dardi Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
“From relatively young vines (21 years), this wine is fresh and floral, with notes of sour cherries, no gripping tannins, and nice acid. Definitely approachable now. Not your standard elevage for Nebbiolo as the wine sees no oak and spends 6 months in stainless steel before bottling.”
-Troy
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2014 Rosso dei Dardi is 100% Nebbiolo from Dardi, done in steel, with carbonic maceration. A textbook example of the vintage, the 2014 exudes class and personality. A host of dark cherry, plum, violet, spice and mint nuances open up effortlessly. The 2014 is at once translucent yet powerful as only Nebbiolo can be. Readers who can find the 2014 should not hesitate, as it is truly special.” AG
Bitouzet-Prieur
Arriving January 22nd
Ring in the New Year with the arrivals of Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur 2011 vintage. Vincent Bitouzet and his son Francois hail from two centuries of deep winemaking roots in Burgundy, and one of the first family-owned domaines to bottle their wines. What you can expect is nothing short of classic age-worthy wines that are genuinely reflective of the terroir in each of their parcels.
Father and son work together to farm organically on all the holdings of their 12 hectare domaine, including 4 hectares to Chardonnay and the remaining 8 hectares to Pinot Noir plantings. Indigenous yeasts are used and all grapes are harvested manually.
2011 was a tricky growing season for Burgundy which necessitated extremely tedious and careful maintenance of the vines. But what had been revealed as the result of the hard work of the Bitouzet family for 2011 are classic wines of depth and structure.
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Wines Arriving January 22nd
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Clos du Cromin, Cote de Beaune 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2011 Meursault Clos du Cromin is all about freshness, energy and vibrancy. Lemon, white flowers, jasmine and a hint of spice are supported by clean veins of minerality that add tension and brightness. With time in the glass, the wine becomes increasingly more focused, vibrant and persistent. I very much like the sense of energy here.”AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($89.96) $69 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 1.5L ($199.95) $149 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2011 Meursault Les Charmes wraps around the palate with gorgeous depth and nuance. There is plenty of Charmes richness and depth in the glass. At the same time, the wine’s structural elements are front and center, at least today. The firm, slightly dry finish suggests the fruit may have been brought in a little early.”AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74 for the 750ML
The next best price is $156 for the 1.5L
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Perrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2011 Meursault Les Perrières is surprisingly rich and viscous for Perrières. Honey, almonds, mint, dried flowers and dried pears flesh out in the glass. With air the wine’s minerality becomes more apparent. Ideally, the 2011 is best left alone for at least another year or two to allow all the elements to come together.”AG
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Santenots, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Meursault Les Santenots is first and foremost a wine of texture. Gracious and layered in the glass, the 2011 is endowed with considerable personality. White stone fruits, flowers anise and crushed rocks emerge over time, but the overall impression is one of pure silk. The style is rich, deep and resonant, while the balance is first-rate.”AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Cent Vignes, Beaune Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 90 points “Sweet rose petals, rosewater, violets, mint, hard candy and crushed rocks are some of the many notes that take shape in the 2011 Beaune Cent-Vignes. Wonderfully pointed and pure, the 2011 impresses for its energy, tension and pure verve. There is plenty of potential here, but readers will need to give the 2011 a few years to soften.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.95
The average price is $50
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Caillerets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Caillerets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 1.5L ($179.95) $119 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 93 points “The 2011 Volnay Caillerets is one of the most explosive wines in this range. Black cherries, plums, licorice, smoke and tar literally jump from the glass. The 2011 is round and voluptuous on the palate, yet also backed up by considerable structure. Hints of cloves, new leather and sweet tobacco add the final layers of nuance. In 2011 there are just three barrels of Caillerets, one of which is new, a slightly higher ratio than is typically the case.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Aussy, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni 91 points “Plum, red cherry pit, mint, wild flowers and anise meld together in the 2011 Volnay Les Aussy. Here it is the wine’s energy and drive that stand out most. Today, the Aussy is a bit compact, but it should soften with time. Once again, I am impressed with the sheer depth and purity of the fruit, both of which the 2011 has in spades. At the same time, the wine retains its essential, mid-weight personality. All the elements are in balance in a wine that has really come together over the last year.”AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Clos des Chenes, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Volnay Clos des Chênes is quite reticent today. There is plenty of depth and richness in the glass, even if all the elements aren’t fully formed just yet. Sweet tobacco, licorice, mint, spices and plums emerge over time, but only with great reluctance. The Clos des Chênes is going to require significant patience. Today, it is a bit compact.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Mitans, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “Black cherries, plums, cloves, menthol, licorice and tar wrap around the palate in the 2011 Volnay Mitans. A dark, imposing wine, the Mitans is the most reticent of these 2011s. The wine’s depth and broad shoulders are impressive, but today the Mitans comes across as a bit rough around the edges. The Mitans was the last of these wines to finish its malolactic fermentation and was also bottled a bit later than the other wines, both of which might explain some of its rawness today. Ideally the firm tannins need time to soften.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Pitures, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni 91 points “Incisive and powerful, the 2011 Volnay Pitures is bright, focused and linear in its personality. Dark red cherries, plums, graphite, smoke, licorice and new leather flesh out in a broad, powerful wine endowed with tremendous depth and pure thrust. The Pitures opens up nicely in the glass, but it, too, will require a measure of patience. Still, the 2011 is likely to remain a bit rustic.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Taillepieds, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Black cherries, plums, cloves, menthol, licorice and tar wrap around the palate in the 2011 Volnay Mitans. A dark, imposing wine, the Mitans is the most reticent of these 2011s. The wine’s depth and broad shoulders are impressive, but today the Mitans comes across as a bit rough around the edges. The Mitans was the last of these wines to finish its malolactic fermentation and was also bottled a bit later than the other wines, both of which might explain some of its rawness today. Ideally the firm tannins need time to soften.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Additional Rosenthal Selections Arriving January 22nd
Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Blanc, Provence 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Importer note “Marsanne (51%) is the dominant grape variety complemented by Clairette Blanc (31%) and some Ugni Blanc (18%). The vineyards to produce the white wine at Bagnol cover a bit less than 9 hectares and are planted on a gentle slope of clay and limestone soil with a north – northwest exposure. After a manual harvest, the grapes are destemmed and pressed; the fermentation continues for three weeks in cement cuves at a temperature controlled 18 degrees Celsius; the wine is vinified completely dry. The malo-lactic fermentation is blocked to preserve the freshness of the wine and the wine is normally bottled at some point between May and July of the following year. ”
De Forville Langhe Arneis, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
VinopolNote 100% Arneis. Harvested by hand and vinified in stainless steel
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $18
De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Importer note “This cuvée is a selection of Nebbiolo from the younger vines of the various “cru” in Barbaresco supplemented by grapes from the neighboring village of Neive. The average age of the vines is 30 years. The wine is fermented in stainless steel for 10 days to 2 weeks and then is refined in large oak barrels for an additional year before being bottled. An astonishing value … as are all of the fine wines from this remarkable estate.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau La Peyre, Haut-Medoc 2012 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Importer note “The vineyards cover about 1.2 hectares and sit on gravel-infused soil. The vines are of an average age of 25 years (as of 2011). The grape blend for the Haut-Médoc is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. After a manual harvest, the alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks; at the conclusion of that phase of the vinification, the wine is racked into small barrels to clarify for an additional year before bottling. Production is on the order of 8000 bottles per annum; 3000 bottles are reserved for our use for the US market.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau Moulin de Tricot, Margaux 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Importer note “Heavily dependent on Cabernet Sauvignon (at least three-fourths of the cuvée), this wine has a distinguished structure and complex flavors that beg for additional aging in the bottle. The elevage in barrel extends for eighteen months at which point the wine is bottled without filtration.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $47
Les Hauts de Valcombe Ventoux Rouge, Rhone 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd
Case-12 Les Hauts de Valcombe Ventoux Rouge 2013 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, ETA January 22nd (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Kerry Winslow – GrapeLive 91 points “The Valcombe vines are about 75 years old and sit low on the slopes of Mount Ventoux. They are farmed organic and produce traditional wines of balance and finesse. The wines are crafted by Luc and Cendrine Guénard, a couple which has a great passion for their terroir. Their estate covers about 28 hectares of mostly old vine Grenache with Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault for reds and as well as a collection of white grapes. The 2013 Les Hauts de Valcombe is a sappy and spicy red with great detail and vitality; it is open, but brilliantly subtle and refined with loads of charm that highlight the chalky mix of soils that include blue clay and galets, the same round stones found in Chateaneuf. The palate is easy with red spices, dried flowers, earth and light leather notes adding complexity to the black raspberry, plum and pomegranate fruit core along with cracked pepper and red spicy cinnamon. There is a stony and stylish savory side that comes through as well as a lingering blueberry and strawberry on the finish. It is a pleasing and easy to love red from one of the most underrated areas of the Rhone. Drink the Les Hauts de Valcombe between 2015 and 2018, it’s lovely stuff.”
Schloss Gobelsburg
The Schloss Gobelsburg winery is the oldest in the region, and one of the oldest in the world. Cistercian monks from the Zwettl Monastery founded the vineyards in 1171 and performed the winemaking operations throughout eight centuries until 1995, when a winemaking / management contract was awarded to Michael Moosbrugger and his wife Eva. The monks had practiced organic grape-growing techniques since the late 50s, and organic viticulture is still practiced today.
Moosbrugger revolutionized winemaking at Schloss Gobelsburg and has garnered many high awards, including being named Winemaker of the Year by the Austrian magazine Falstaff. His attentive crafting leads to precise and distinct wines that reflect the essence of each site. He sees two styles of winemaking: the first is an interventionist method which uses industrial machinery and standardized techniques to create wines. In his view, the second form of winemaking is to act as the teacher or coach to the grapes: to work with them, encouraging the best expression of their character without forcing adjustments upon them. These wines reflect fully the character and individuality of the vineyard and grape varieties. This concept extends from careful selection of vines all the way to bottle aging where he seeks to find the right moment to capture the highest and purest essence of the wines.
We offer a selection of 2012 and 2013 wines available here now. Additional 2013 and 2014 wines arrive later this month on January 28th.
Schloss Gobelsburg Wines Available Here Now
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobelsburger Riesling, Kamptal 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Offers ripe aromas and flavors of beeswax and sage honey, with kiwifruit, melon and white currant hints. This has some dried mango notes, with an exuberant finish of white pepper and lemon curd. Drink now through 2022.” WS
Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 7 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 94 points “The Kamptal’s iconic Grüner Veltliner vineyard has seldom if ever had to rise to a challenge like that of the other Gobelsburg 2013s from this variety. It succeeds in part by offering scents and flavors such as make one wonder how this could come from grapes. Hyacinth and freesia in the nose are mingled with nuances of alkaline and wet stone that then, along with toasted grain and mouthwatering veal stock, dominate the palate proceedings. That’s not to suggest that this wine lacks fruit. Apple, quince and honeydew offer a luscious presence, with complete transparency to mossy forest floor and mineral intrigue. Bittersweet floral perfume adds to the wine’s creamy, glossy inner-mouth allure. Rather than the energy and dynamic so memorable in the comparable Renner, this delivers an enveloping, buoyant wave of finishing flavor.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Gaisberg Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 8 bottles available
Terry Theise notes “The perfection of the cool, a moony minimalist wine, like a Miles Davis solo, or the waltz of the little dancer in the music box, or a full white moon over a black field of icy jewels.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $34
Schloss Gobelsburg Zobinger Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 4 bottles available
Terry Theise notes “Trades a little of Gaisberg’s outline and scores lovely exotic notes in return; spices, orchid-oolong and peony; not the gravitas of mineral of Gaisberg but more a semifreddo of middle-eastern spice and osmanthus.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Wines Arriving January 28th
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobelsburger Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($21.95) $16 pre-arrival special, ETA January
Terry Theise notes “It is, amazingly, as good as the ’13 and yet entirely different; much fruitier in ’14; super lentilly and fennely and overtly expressive; sweet entry and a firm finish; somewhat like an ’09 but with more hyssop; lingering and concentrated.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobelsburger Riesling, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special, ETA January
Terry Theise notes “Lovely fragrance, verbena and a kind of charming herbal funk; a bit of the ambient-botrytis of ’14 is here, and the overall effect is drier and twiggier than its GV sibling.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Zobinger Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA January
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “Scents of iris and jasmine, apple and apricot set the stage for a generously juicy, subtly interactive performance on a silken palate. Cooler in personality and in its floral/herbal shadings and more aloof than the corresponding Gaisberg, this nonetheless introduces considerable piquancy and chew of fruit pit, pip and skin in its sustained, mouthwateringly saline finish.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Zobinger Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA January
Terry Theise notes “Both this and the Gaisberg Grand Crus were crouching behind a veil of botrytis, and were hard to read. There’s an interesting wine below the shroud, and if any wine deserves the benefit of my puny doubts, it’s this one. Yet, we must wait and see.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schloss Gobelsburg Gaisberg Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special, ETA January
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “An alluring freesia-like perfume and cooling scents of green herbs would have had me guessing that this was Heiligenstein. Intimations of black tea, ginger and pepper translate, on a glossy, glycerol-rich, lusciously citric and peachy palate, into an invigorating picture of piquancy, cut and clarity. A similarly stimulating hint of caramelized parsnip puts one in mind of Grüner Veltliner. This finishes with memorable vibrancy and verve not to mention sheer persistence. As with some other vintage exemplars, it is an unusually forward Gaisberg, and happily the perfume and dynamic complexity it exhibited from cask in the weeks before bottling hasn’t dimmed.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, ETA January
David Schildknecht–Vinous 94 points “The Kamptal’s iconic Grüner Veltliner vineyard has seldom if ever had to rise to a challenge like that of the other Gobelsburg 2013s from this variety. It succeeds in part by offering scents and flavors such as make one wonder how this could come from grapes. Hyacinth and freesia in the nose are mingled with nuances of alkaline and wet stone that then, along with toasted grain and mouthwatering veal stock, dominate the palate proceedings. That’s not to suggest that this wine lacks fruit. Apple, quince and honeydew offer a luscious presence, with complete transparency to mossy forest floor and mineral intrigue. Bittersweet floral perfume adds to the wine’s creamy, glossy inner-mouth allure. Rather than the energy and dynamic so memorable in the comparable Renner, this delivers an enveloping, buoyant wave of finishing flavor.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Schloss Gobelsburg Renner Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special, ETA January
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95 points “From Renner’s geologically complex Urgestein mix characteristically emerges a Grüner Veltliner of comparable complexity that’s indescribable without resorting to mineral vocabulary, and that is certainly true of this 2013. But there is so much more going on that it nearly makes me dizzy. A heady nose of lilac and iris, radish and raw ginger, along with hints of citrus and roasted root vegetables, sets the tone for what follows, an explosively concentrated interaction of grippingly piquant, pungent, incisive and brightly juicy elements. Apple and lime, caramelized parsnip and golden beet are mingled with smoky nut oils and laced with ginger, radish, iris root and white pepper. The reverberating finish adds to a kaleidoscopic whirl of the aforementioned elements an otherwise ineffable ore-like depth and saliva-inducing salinity. I was holding my breath that what I first tasted would be captured in bottle with complete success, and that’s happened.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage 2014 750ML ($79.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA January
Terry Theise notes “Sensational fragrance! Richly, sweetly LAMM. The palate is taut, powerful, markedly spicy; it’s the 2006 this most resembles yet the alc is much lower, between 13-13.5%. Early days yet for this. Lamm as a rule is buckwheat-y, rusky, savory but not thick, like a vegetable-veal stock with barley, yet oddly also like lamb itself. (“Lamm” doesn’t mean lamb, but is rather a dialect word for “loam.”) It is a great wine though virtually without fruit per se. Its poise of gloss and power, intensity and outline, mass and transparency are emblems of the paradox without which no wine is truly great.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schloss Gobelsburg Steinsetz Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special, ETA January
Terry Theise notes “This ever-deepening wine has a lysergic moment in ’14; high-toned, almost hoppy aroma, with notes of lima beans and dill; picked the 2nd week in November; the palate is wonderfully juicy, like extra-virgin grapeseed oil; the fruit is “sweet” and the umami is ludicrously spicy. The site sits on a plateau on ancient Danube riverbed stones, and for many years it was radishy and stinging, as if it were fined with scree and stirred with a peppermint stick. A little of that character still remains, but the older vines (now around 15) have sunk roots deep enough to reach the aquifer, and the wines too are deeper.”
Schloss Gobelsburg GV Tradition Gruner Veltliner Reserve, Kamptal 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, ETA January
David Schildknecht–Vinous 97-98 points “Faintly yeasty and alkaline notes in the nose accompany intimations of the rich, earthy, umami-laden foundation of subtly caramelized root vegetables that the palate delivers, studded with peppercorns and drizzled with fragrant floral honey. Satiny in texture, searchingly expansive, yet buoyant and preserving a vibrant core of sheer refreshment, this enters a finishing realm of oyster liquor-like salinity, oceanic mineral and seaweedy depth, that will milk your salivary glands while leaving your mouth agape. (Any embarrassment will be well worth it.)” DS
Californian Superstars
Below is a selection of limited release Californian wines from some of the top producers throughout the state. We’re offering many at the lowest listed prices in the USA, so act fast as these highly sought after wines won’t be here for long!
Araujo Estate Altagracia Red, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Altagracia is round, sexy, supple and beautiful, especially within the context of the year. Sweet red berries, mint, tobacco, savory herbs and anise meld together in a distinctive wine long on personality. With time in the glass the wine fleshes out nicely, as the flavors become darker, richer and layered. Altagracia is a blend of mostly Eisele fruit, plus a bit of Vine Hill Ranch, a well-draining site in Oakville that is among Napa Valley’s very best. The blend is 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec.” WA
Araujo Estate Eisele Vineyard Syrah, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($249.95) $169 special, 4 bottles available
Robert Parker 96 points “Another standout, the 2010 Syrah Eisele Vineyard is drop-dead gorgeous. A bevy of black olives and plums burst from the glass in an explosive wine loaded with varietal nuance and sheer power. The cooler vintage brought out the best. This is a marvelous, totally compelling wine endowed with massive concentration and depth. The addition of 3% Viognier and a small amount of stems add complexity. Black fruit, tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol are layered into the brooding finish.” RP
Colgin Cellars Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2002 750ML ($399.95) $319 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator & Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94 points “(this north-facing vineyard was the last to be picked in 2002) Saturated ruby. Highly aromatic nose of black raspberry, violet, mocha and smoked meat, lifted by sexy baking spices. Dense, chewy and thick but leavened by its sheer extract and sappiness. This has virtually liqueur-like ripeness but comes across as fresher and fruitier than the young 2003. Finishes with outstanding length and substantial ripe tannins. Winemaker Aubert says that of the Colgin sites, this vineyard produces fruit highest in phenolics.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $374
Colgin Cellars Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2005 750ML ($399.95) $319 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 97 points “Shows amazing purity of fruit, focus, balance and depth, with tiers of spicy currant, anise, hazelnut, mineral and melted licorice, combining power with finesse and grace with intensity. Ends with a long, lingering finish that keeps repeating the core flavor themes. Best from 2010 through 2019. 110 cases made.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $345
Colgin Cellars Tychson Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($499.9) $349 special (was $379), 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill opens with the most exquisite of aromatics. Sage, rosemary, graphite, tobacco, menthol, black cherries, plums all flesh out in a dark, voluptuous wine loaded with class. The interplay of savory notes with layers of fruit is simply breathtaking. Vivid, nuanced and beautifully structured, the 2011 is firing on all cylinders. There is a level of aromatic lift and pure finesse that is simply striking. Hints of orange peel and white pepper add an exotic flair on the close. Tychson Hill is Cabernet Sauvignon with splashes of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Shades of the 2001 linger in the empty glass.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $395
The average price is $466
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($249.95) $169 special, 8 bottles available
James Suckling 97 points “Aromas of dark fruits such as blackcurrants as well as chili spices. Maybe some tar. It’s full-bodied with wonderful depth and intensity. It starts slowly and grabs your attention. Voluptuous fruit style to this. Better in 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($219.95) $149 special, 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Dark raspberries, plums, smoke, mocha, licorice, tar and lavender notes burst from the glass in Diamond Creek’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace. Pliant, juicy and expressive, the 2010 covers every corner of the palate with gorgeous depth and pure richness. Layers of fruit built to a deeply resonant, generous finish marked with expressive, perfumed aromatics. Right now, the Red Rock Terrace is showing a little more French oak influence in its flavors and textures, but all the elements are beautifully balanced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($219.95) $149 special, 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill is soft, pliant and nicely resonant in the glass. Plums, black cherries, mocha, spices and new leather are all laced together. This is a distinctly forward, supple Volcanic Hill to drink now and over the next 15-20 years, give or take.”
Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($249.95) $189 special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 98 points “Blackberries, blackcurrants and minerals. Full body and tight tannins. Powerful and long. Amazing depth and structure. Muscular. Classy tannin structure. This needs a few years to soften but amazing. Try in 2018.”
Hundred Acre Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (Was $319), 5 bottles available
Robert Parker 94-96 points “Another great success that escaped the insidious spread of botrytis on the valley floor is the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Few and Far Between. One of the top wines of the vintage, the Cabernet Franc component gives the wine a multidimensional aromatic display of forest floor, blueberries, mulberries, black raspberries, plums, black currants and a wet rock-like minerality. The rich, full-bodied flavors seem almost an anomaly in this vintage given its extraordinary irregularity and frequent disappointments. This prodigious 2011 is a candidate for the wine of the vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $337
Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane Vineyard Estate Cuvee, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($219.95) $199 special, 4 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Estate Cuvée is dark, powerful and explosive, but also super-refined. Floral and spice notes appear first, followed by a host of balsamic-inflected overtones. Beams of tannin and acidity give the wine much of its energy, but the Estate Cuvée is, above all else, a wine of exquisite purity and finesse. I will not be surprised to see the 2013 show even better in another few years. With time in the glass, the 2013 fleshes out a touch, but the best is yet to come. The blend is 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.” AG
Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane Vineyard Roberta’s Reserve, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 100 points “A magnificent towering wine, the 2013 Roberta’s Reserve is deep, powerful and massively tannic. Far from an easygoing Merlot, the 2013 Roberta’s Reserve is going to require considerable cellaring to fully blossom. Floral, savory and mineral notes are pushed forward, until a rush of blue and black fruits opens up on the mid palate and through to the finish. Lavender, sage, menthol, licorice and inky fruit add the final shades of nuance in an explosive Merlot to put away in the darkest corner of the cellar.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane Vineyard Grand-Vin Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2009 1.5L ($899.95) $599 special, 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin opens with the most beguiling bouquet imaginable. Freshly cut flowers, mint, cinnamon and licorice all make an appearance as this vivid, beautifully delineated wine opens up in the glass. A model of total finesse and elegance, the 2009 wraps around the palate with what feels like endless layers of aromas and flavors. This totally seamless, polished Cabernet Sauvignon is virtually impossible to resist today, but it will be even better in another few years. The 2009 is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2039. Kapcsandy’s 2009s have developed beautifully over the last year.” WA
Sine Qua Non The 17th Nail in My Cranium, Sta Rita Hills 2005 750ML ($1,499.95) $1,299 special, 1 bottle available
Robert Parker 100 points “The 2005 Syrah The 17th Nail In My Cranium, a blend of 96.5% Syrah and 3.5% Viognier which is aged 38 months prior to bottling. (I always wonder what Marcel Guigal would think of a wine like this which seems to tip its hat in the direction of Cote Rotie and then goes into high gear and clearly says, “I’m just something very different, but thanks for even thinking of that appellation while smelling and tasting me.”) Black as a moonless night, the 2005 17th Nail reveals a stunning nose of spring flowers intermixed with creme de cassis, blackberries, charcoal, graphite, and hints of lard and barbecue spices. Dense, with an endless (and I mean endless) finish, remarkable purity, and layer upon layer of flavor, but no sense of heaviness or flabbiness, this prodigious Syrah should evolve for 15 or more years.” RP
Sine Qua Non Patine Grenache 2011 750ML ($599.95) $499 special (was $519), 3 bottle available
Wine Advocate 97 points “Coming all from Manfred’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and a blend of 77% Grenache, 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier (fermented with 25% whole clusters), the 2011 Grenache Patine spent a full 33 months in almost all neutral oak, with just 11% being new. It offers perfumed and spice-laced notes of white pepper, black raspberry, blackberry and ground herbs that flow to a full-bodied, elegant, nicely concentrated 2011 that has nicely integrated acidity, no hard edges and a terrific finish. It’s certainly one of the fresher, more elegant Grenaches from Manfred, yet it still has rocking levels of fruit. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and enjoy bottles over the following decade.” JD
Sine Qua Non Patine Syrah 2011 750ML ($599.95) $499 special (was $519), 3 bottle available
Wine Advocate 98 points “A wine that needs to be forgotten in the cellar for 5-6 years, the 2011 Syrah Patine checks in as a blend of roughly 97% Syrah and the balance Roussanne and Viognier. It too comes all from the estate’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard and saw 39 months in 63% new French oak. Backward, tight, concentrated and structured, with full-bodied richness and depth, it gives up Guigal La Landonne like aromas and flavors of graphite, sweet oak, smoked meats, pepper and black raspberry and cassis-like fruit. While it shows the vintage’s cooler nature, it has a stacked mid-palate and will evolve gracefully for 15-20 years.” JD
Sloan Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2003 750ML ($299.95) $199 special, 2 bottles available
Robert Parker 96+ points “The 2003 was made by Martha McClellan and the viticulture looked over by David Abreu. The 2003 Sloan, if slightly less prodigious than the perfect 2002, remains a young wine. Notes of vanillin, espresso roast, blackberries, scorched earth, camphor and hints of charcoal and barbecue meat jump from the glass of this spicy, rich, provocative Cabernet Sauvignon. With a full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannin and adequate acidity, the blend includes 14% Cabernet Franc and 86% Cabernet Sauvignon from this extraordinary hillside vineyard above Auberge de Soleil in mid-Napa Valley. This wine is 2-5 years away from full maturity, and should last for another decade.” RP 6/2013
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arriving in January
Opus One Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2010 1.5L ($899.95) $779 pre-arrival special, ETA January
Antonio Galloni 97 points “One of the highlights among the more recent releases, the 2010 Opus One is flat-out gorgeous. Dark cherries, plums, graphite, cassis and pencil shavings are all woven together in a fabric of notable class and elegance. The 2010 stands out for its exceptional minerality, tension and pure power. Readers will have to be patient. This is a picture perfect rendering of this great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintage.” AG
California Case Deals
Case-12 Arrowood Saralee’s Vineyard Syrah, Russian River Valley 2011 750ML ($319.95) $159 special, 9 cases available (that’s only $13.25/bottle!)
Arrowood Saralee’s Vineyard Syrah, Russian River Valley 2011 750ML ($34.95) $16 special, 22 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “(36% new oak): Vivid ruby. Smoky dark berry and olive tapenade scents are lifted by zesty mineral and black pepper notes, with a floral nuance adding complexity. Silky and focused on the palate, offering spice-accented blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter with air. The floral quality recurs on the persistent, smoky finish.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-12 Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($319.95) $199 special, 12 cases available (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($31.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89+ points “(at 13.5% alcohol, this is a full degree lower than the Pauline’s Cuvee; includes tiny bits of merlot and petit verdot): Bright red-ruby. Musky black raspberry, blackberry, licorice, menthol and oak on the nose. Distinctly tighter and less pliant now than the Pauline’s Cuvee, displaying a touch of medicinal reserve to the sappy dark berry, violet and menthol flavors. Shows serious spine without coming off as hard: I’d give this persistent cabernet a year or two to mellow in bottle.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $23.99
Case-12 Atalon Pauline’s Cuvee, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($359.95) $199 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Atalon Pauline’s Cuvee, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This Merlot-based blend is a huge success. It’s a big, tannic, tight wine, packed to bursting with black cherry liqueur, cola and spice flavors. Yet it maintains an exciting balance, with the tension between acids, tannins and oak in equilibrium. Seems like it wants 5-6 years in the cellar to let it throw some tannins and mellow.” WE
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $28
Case-12 Frog’s Leap Rutherford, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($599.95) $519 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Frog’s Leap Rutherford, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 15 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The highlight in this range, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon captures the richness and exuberance of the vintage while keeping a classic, mid-weight feel. Sweet red cherry, plum, cedar, herb and smoke add shades of nuance in a hugely appealing Cabernet Sauvignon that will drink well for another two decades plus. This is the first Frog’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon made from estate fruit.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-12 Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Highwire Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2012 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $41.58/bottle!)
Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Highwire Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2012 750ML ($59.95) $46 special (was $49), 11 bottles available
Robert Parker 95 points “The 2012 Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard, a site that is half head-pruned and half on a high wire trellising system, sees more new French oak (52%). A dense ruby/purple color is followed by a rich, full-bodied wine displaying lots of boysenberry, black raspberry and cherry fruit intermixed with hints of incense and Asian spice. Supple tannins and a big, pedal-to-the-metal, juicy, succulent style suggest it will drink well for 5-6 years.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-12 Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2013 750ML ($349.95) $299 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2013 750ML ($37.95) $27.50 special, 23 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2013 Zinfandel Russian River Valley is an attractive, boisterous wine to drink now and over the next few years. Dark red cherry, raspberry, spice, and mint inform the juicy finish. The 2013 is gracious, inviting and pretty much impossible to resist.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $34
Case-12 Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 6 cases available (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 25 bottles available
“The solidly made 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa represents 70,000 cases of good Cabernet Sauvignon! Displaying herbaceously-tinged blackcurrant and plum fruit intermixed with a hint of licorice, this spicy, ripe, richly fruity Cabernet is not terribly complex, but it is well-made. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.”–Wine Advocate
Case-12 Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 750ML ($159.95) $149 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Spectator 88 points “Offers a lot of Cabernet for the money, with a trim profile of dusty earth, dried berry and cedary oak flavors, complemented by gravelly tannins. Drink now through 2022.” WS
Case-12 Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Monument Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2010 750ML ($379.95) $299 special, 1 case available (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Monument Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2010 750ML ($37.95) $28 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “A lovely Cabernet, ripe and delicious, yet complex enough to hold your interest. It’s just beginning its journey in the bottle. Very dark in color, with hard tannins, it has an immense core of blackberries and cherries. Give it at least 6-8 years, but it could still be rocking in 2022.” WE
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $41
Have a wonderful weekend!